The state's legal aid service received more than 30,000 applications for assistance last year.
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Tasmania Legal Aid director Vincenzo Caltabiano in its most recent annual report said over the last four years, expenditure on legal services increased by 58 per cent.
Tasmania Legal Aid chairman Patrick Lunn said funding for the body remained a concern amid increasing need for its services.
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"This year we delivered our services to within $10,000 of a $17 million dollar budget," he said.
"This is a credit to the management and staff responsible for delivering our services in times of unprecedented demand, and managing our resources in extraordinary times."
Tasmania Legal Aid received 30,240 applications for legal aid in 2019-20, of which 5777 were for new cases and 24,643 were for extensions to existing grants.
The applications had increased by more than 3300 in 2018-19.
Legal aid grants to private practitioners over 2019-20 grew by nearly 14 per cent, from $5.1 million to $5.9 million.
Legal Aid's duty lawyer service helped 3776 clients over 2019-20.
Its in-house lawyers represented a further 1070 clients in the Magistrates Court, including 221 children.
In-house lawyers represented 100 clients in the Supreme Court - an increase of 28 per cent on 2018-19 numbers.
Ninety per cent of grant applications in 2019-20 were approved.
Of criminal law applications, 91 per cent were approved and 84 per cent of new family law applications were approved.
Ninety-three applications for child safety, family violence, mental health and National Disability Insurance Scheme matters were approved.
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